Large stretches of the game saw Colorado’s offense struggle, and the defense allowed a game-tying, 96-yard scoring drive. Except for one noteworthy punt return, even the special teams weren’t that impressive.
Shedeur Sanders delivered when it mattered most to win the game and snap the Buffaloes’ eight-game Pac-12 skid.
On Saturday, Sanders led Colorado to a 27-24 victory over Arizona State by scoring two touchdowns and connecting with Javon Antonio on a 43-yard throw to set up Alejandro Mata’s 43-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining.
Sanders had limited time to target receivers downfield as a result of the Sun Devils’ five sacks of him. Sanders, the second-best passer in the country with 356 yards per game, was limited to 239 yards on 26 of his 42 passes.
When it mattered most, the coach’s son still delivered, scoring on a touchdown run in the first half and hitting Antonio for a 9-yard score in the fourth. Sanders connected with Antonio once more, this time on a 43-yard pass, to set up Mata’s game-winning kick, giving Colorado (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12) its first Pac-12 victory in a year after Arizona State had tied the score with 50 seconds remaining.
Due to injury, Arizona State (1-5, 0-3 Pac-12) struggled offensively for the majority of the afternoon without three starting offensive lineman and two important backups.
In just 13 plays, the Sun Devils gained 94 yards, which helped Trenton Bourguet’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Troy Omeire level the score at 24.
Bourguet was under almost constant pressure as he completed 32 of his 49 passes for 335 yards and a touchdown. Arizona State is heading to its worst start since 1942 after losing its seventh straight Pac-12 game.
On their first drive, the Sun Devils used underneath crossing routes to move down the field and reach Colorado’s 2. With the exception of center Leif Fautanu, Arizona State’s linemen fanned out in an unusual configuration near the goal line, and Bourguet then followed him in for a 2-yard touchdown run.
Cam Skattebo’s 1-yard run with 6 1/2 minutes remaining was the result of a drive that Arizona State’s offense put together late in the first half.
To make it 7-all, Xavier Weaver scored on a fourth-and-1 run, but until the final minutes of the half, the Buffaloes struggled to stop Arizona State’s rush on Sanders. Shortly after Skattebo’s touchdown, Colorado put together a scoring drive, and Sanders scrambled in for a 16-yard score.
Arizona State promptly positioned itself for Dario Longhetto’s 33-yard field goal, which gave them a 17-14 lead at the break. The Sun Devils battled for the majority of the second half before scoring late. The defense then allowed the winning drive, which resulted in the Sun Devils’ sixth loss in a row overall this season.
